White Plains NY Card show this weekend

[calvindog]

I just got back -- had to drop off some delicate items to be graded. It was my first baseball card show (really) and I'm wondering if it will now be my last. Very few prewar tables, maybe 3 or so. However, the dealers at the prewar tables were so laughably overpriced you'd had to have been an idiot to even consider paying for their cards even after they gave you their super special, bargain-basement deals. For example: one putz had an Orange Borders Tigers card in raw condition but not in great shape. I would say the card has sold any number of times in various auctions for anywhere from $250 to $350, never any more. Anyway, the guy was selling it for $950! I mentioned to him that he was dreaming with that price and he responded that the card "books for $2400." I'm thinking, "which planet is this book on?" He had another Mordecai Brown PC I was somewhat interested in but it had writing on the front and back. The card may have been worth $150 -- he had it listed for $650 but would come down to $500 for me -- after telling me it "books for $2000." Anyway, the guy kind of looked like Bill Goodwin so I made sure that my wallet was still in my pocket and my fillings still in my teeth and got out of there. Another dealer had a badly beat up Tigers team card from 07 with a sticker on it for $950. The card was maybe worth $100 as it had writing on it and paper loss after having been removed from a scrapbook. I laughed at the price and he knocked it down first to $450 and then $250. I walked away from that POS as well.

The question is: is the National the same way? Are the dealers just hoping that some imbecile throws money at them? Is the National similarly just a waste of time?

[barrysloate]

Jeff- I haven't been to a show in more than ten years, for exactly the reason you described. Once in a while you can find something fairly priced but you have to get lucky. Most people go just to catch up with old friends.

We attended the show from 10:30AM this morning to 11:15AM

Whilst we had the opportunity to have a number of super rare
pieces graded by our friends at SCG, the only other money
that we were able to spend was $2.25 on a diet coke

Most of the dealers who had pre-War Cards packed their table with medium
and low grade examples that we have seen many times at prior shows.

On gentlemen did have a common Rose Card graded 80 but his asking price
was nearly double book.

It was good to catch up with Bill Huggins who had items from his forthcoming auction on display. When we asked him if there was anything in the room... he simply said "nothing for you."

He was right. Unless you want to spend time on an autograph line, collect
cards from 1990's on, then you probably will learn more and see more and for that matter, buy more by spending your time on this Board and E-Bay


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

[barrysloate]

I think $2.25 for a diet coke was a fair deal.

[RichardSimon]

Barry - that would depend on the size of the Diet Coke .

[calvindog]

Bruce, the dealer with the Rose PC was the same guy who was selling the Orange Borders and Brown PC I noted above. He mentioned that he sells that Orange Borders Tigers team card for $750 "all day long." I'm guessing he normally lives in Alaska where the days last about 2-3 minutes.

[Jim VB]

Jeff,

You guys could have car pooled, if you have a minivan.


Edited to say: Sorry Jeff. Bruce has informed me, by PM, that he doesn't do carpooling. He's doing so well that he has a private vehicle and a driver! (Seriously. He PMed me just to say that.)


I've attached a picture. (OK. This part I'm kidding about, but the other part is dead serious.)

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I mentioned to him that he was dreaming with that price and he responded that the card "books for $2400." I'm thinking, "which planet is this book on?"

I was there today submitting to SGC and JSA. It is funny when you want to sell cards to those dealers it seems as if they are using a different "book".

And I also find it funny how they will belittle the card in every way just to try and rip you off.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Robextend

I was there today submitting to SGC and PSA. It is funny when you want to sell cards to those dealers it seems as if they are using a different "book".

And I also find it funny how they will belittle the card in every way just to try and rip you off.

I have to say that getting lied to my face today by this dude was just bizarre. This idea that the price guide's prices (in near mint, of course, no matter the condition of the card) is somehow holy is obviously a fraud. Are buyers off of Net 54 that stupid or are they all unaware of VCP?

[Leon]

The last show I went to was the Philly show, a few months ago. While I had a great time visiting with Teddy Z and got to meet his even lovelier wife, I couldn't buy anything at the show. There was 1 card I wanted pretty bad. I walked around the table....went to a few other tables and came back. I finally got the nerve to ask the guy his price (and this is a big PSA dealer but is a friend too, so I won't mention his name). I know the card was a $400-$500 card....maybe a bit more. He told me it was $1450. I couldn't even make a counteroffer I felt was legitimate since his price was so over the top and just walked away shaking my head. There will be another of those cards for sure. I really don't get some of the pricing strategies. I am sure that dealer must have had a 3x-5x markup on that card. What happened to being happy with 20%-30% profit, or at least a reasonable street price (if they happened to get a great buy)?..regards

Leon is absolutely correct

It is remarkable how out of touch most the card show dealers are.

Except for the National and one or two other shows, we rarely find a high quality card worth purchasing.

Even in sets like Delongs, 34 Goudeys or 41 Playballs the dealers tend to be at least 2x the SMR.

What amazes us is that we have seen some cards at the same dealer's table
or the same E Bay BIN listing for over two years.

Leon is right- it seems that only private treaty with other collectors or auctionsare the only way to obtain rare cards at market prices


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List
bdorskind@dorskindgroup.com

[JasonL]

This conversation confirms some things for me, which is comforting. But it doesn't help explain to me how it is that I can't seem to re-sell any of my own cards for anything more than a 50% discount to what I paid...Do I always overpay by this much? perhaps.
Regardless of the reason, the card karma never seems to go my way.
At least I know not to buy at shows.
That much I do know.

The shows seem to be simply social occasions for the dealers, because with pricing strategies like that, I don't imagine they sell anything whatsoever.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by JasonL

This conversation confirms some things for me, which is comforting. But it doesn't help explain to me how it is that I can't seem to re-sell any of my own cards for anything more than a 50% discount to what I paid...Do I always overpay by this much?

Solutions:

More bidding parties.

More consignments to great guys (presuming they don't get indicted first).